Equivalent Small Hydro Power: A Simple Method to Evaluate Energy Production by Small Turbines in Collective Irrigation Systems

Demetrio Zema,Santo Zimbone,Daniela D’Agostino,Angelo Nicotra

doi:10.3390/w10101390

Abstract

The exploitation of water flows in collective irrigation networks is promising in view of enhancing renewable energy production in agriculture. To this goal, a simplified method to estimate the electricity production of small hydro power (SHP) plants integrated in existing irrigation systems is proposed. This method schematizes the water network by an “equivalent” system, consisting of a single pipeline with homogeneous diameter and material. The proposed method only requires as input data the altimetry and the maps of the irrigated areas instead of the materials and diameters of all the conduits of a common water network (often unknown by irrigation managers). The feasibility of the proposed method has been verified to size SHP plants in seven collective irrigation systems of Calabria (Southern Italy). This application has highlighted a mean error of 20% in estimating the SHP power with a more detailed model, previously developed by the same authors and verified in the same context; these estimates are more accurate for SHP plants not exceeding 150–175 kW of electrical power. These results suggest the applicability of the proposed method for feasibility studies or large-scale projects of small SHP plants.

Highlights

Hydropower currently represents, worldwide, a significant source of electrical energy [1].It contributes to one-fifth of the total power worldwide and it is the only domestic source for electricity generation in many countries [2,3]
This study evaluates the accuracy of small hydro power (SHP) power estimates provided by applying the simplified methodology (hereinafter “simplified method” (SM), called “Equivalent Small Hydro Power”) to seven collective irrigation systems selected in water user associations (WUAs) of Calabria
The irrigable areas of each irrigation system were identified by subtracting the urban areas from the is supplied from several sources, individually feeding different parts of the water network, which can areas equipped by the water network and potentially served by collective irrigation

Summary

Introduction

Hydropower currently represents, worldwide, a significant source of electrical energy [1].It contributes to one-fifth of the total power worldwide and it is the only domestic source for electricity generation in many countries [2,3]. From the environmental point of view, hydropower is more sustainable compared to the other hydroelectrical energy production systems. It avoids the heavy impacts of large dams on the natural ecosystem [4] and, more generally, the constraints of human-controlled flow regulation works, affecting freshwater conditions [5]. Thanks to simple technology and low installation and management costs [8], SHP adoption has been suggested in marginal areas with difficult accessibility, where public electrical networks are often absent These areas are often devoted to agricultural activities and served by collective irrigation systems. Despite its economic convenience and environmental sustainability, this opportunity is often neglected and, the SHP potential energy

Methods

Results

Conclusion